Interim Leader: Joe Nolasco (Email: jnolasco AT hkis.edu.hk), Shirley Wan (Email: swan AT hkis.edu.hk)
OUTLINE
Laos is a fascinating country, once part of French Indo-China. It borders China in the north, Thailand in the West, Vietnam in the East, and Cambodia to the south. This Interim takes us to the UNESCO world heritage township of Luang Prabang. This ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the magnificent Mekong River.
During the 1960s and 70s Laos became the most heavily bombed country per head of population in the history of warfare, and this continues to have a devastating impact on its population. Laos contains a number of minority tribes, and so has enormous ethnic diversity.
This interim experience provides students with the opportunity to connect first hand with a number of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in Laos, and witness first -hand how people are helping each other to make life better in Laos for everyone. We will also have the opportunity of a unique experience of living with a family in an ethnic minority village, away from all of the usual comforts of Hong Kong.
TRAVEL INFORMATION Vaccinations: Please obtain specific information and advice regarding suggested immunizations from your family physician no later than Jan 2010.
Visas: Most nationalities will require a tourist visa for entry to Laos, except for passport holder of Japan, Korea and Philippine. More information will be announced on arranging visa as a group. Please make sure passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at time of travel in March 2010.
Land Operators: Green Discovery www.greendiscoverylaos.com
Accommodation: For the first and last two nights we will be staying in a comfortable guest house. Students will share twin room. On March 8 to 10, we will be staying in groups of three or four with a traditional Laotian family. These conditions will be clean and safe, but very different from our HK lifestyles, so students need to be prepared for this.
Interim Leader: Joe Nolasco (Email: jnolasco AT hkis.edu.hk), Shirley Wan (Email: swan AT hkis.edu.hk)
OUTLINE
Laos is a fascinating country, once part of French Indo-China. It borders China in the north, Thailand in the West, Vietnam in the East, and Cambodia to the south. This Interim takes us to the UNESCO world heritage township of Luang Prabang. This ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the magnificent Mekong River.
During the 1960s and 70s Laos became the most heavily bombed country per head of population in the history of warfare, and this continues to have a devastating impact on its population. Laos contains a number of minority tribes, and so has enormous ethnic diversity.
This interim experience provides students with the opportunity to connect first hand with a number of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in Laos, and witness first -hand how people are helping each other to make life better in Laos for everyone. We will also have the opportunity of a unique experience of living with a family in an ethnic minority village, away from all of the usual comforts of Hong Kong.
LAOS INTERIM ORIENTATION
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Vaccinations: Please obtain specific information and advice regarding suggested immunizations from your family physician no later than Jan 2010.
Visas: Most nationalities will require a tourist visa for entry to Laos, except for passport holder of Japan, Korea and Philippine. More information will be announced on arranging visa as a group. Please make sure passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at time of travel in March 2010.
Land Operators: Green Discovery www.greendiscoverylaos.com
Accommodation: For the first and last two nights we will be staying in a comfortable guest house. Students will share twin room. On March 8 to 10, we will be staying in groups of three or four with a traditional Laotian family. These conditions will be clean and safe, but very different from our HK lifestyles, so students need to be prepared for this.
PACKING LIST
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
(revised on Dec 10, 2009)
IMPORTANT INTERIM DATES
NGOs VISIT & DONATION SUGGESTION:
Big Brother Mouse
**My Library, Luang Prabang***
**Free the Bear***
EMERGENCY CONTACT
Ms. Anna Nunez
Mobile: +852 9102 3992
Office Fax: +852 2813-7300
Email: anunez@hkis.edu.hk
Ms. Joanna Lin - Interim Program Coordinator
Office Fax: +852-2813-7300
Email: jlin@hkis.edu.hk